Face protecting mask



Nov. 4, 1952 WEAVER r 2,616,081

FACE PROTECTING MASK Filed May 13, 1948 INVENTORS:

. Gib/F65 M DA v/s John N. WEAVER BY Z $535.

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 FACE PROTECTING MASK John N. Weaver and George W. Davis, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 13, 1948, Serial No. 26,745

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for protecting the features of the wearers face without impairing vision and without'affecting too greatly the normal appearance of the wearer.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or maybe learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements hereinshown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view as seen from the front of the mask, particularly showing the protective features of the mask;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the mask as seen from the back of the mask, in which the features for holding and adjusting the mask are shown;

Figure 3 is a perspective view, special emphasis being placed upon how the mask appears in relation to the wearers face; and

Figure 4 is a top view of the mask.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive mask for protecting the flesh parts of the wearers face.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a transparent mask which will not impair the wearers view of objects in front or on either side of him.

It is an additional object to provide a mask whichcan be easily converted for use in a number of sports, such as baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, football, lacrosse and other sports not here mentioned.

It is a further object to provide a mask which can be molded to fit precisely over the features of any particular person.

Still another object is to provide a mask which will allow a minimum of change to be effected from the wearers normal appearance.

With the stated and other objects in view there is provided in an illustrative embodiment of the invention a mask formed from a rigid, non-shattering, transparent material such as methylmethacrylate and so shaped that the wearers vision cannot be impaired with respect to objects on either side of him or in front of him. Shock absorbing cushions made from a material such as foam rubber are attached to different parts of the mask so as to protect the wearers forehead, cheek bones and chin. Additional pads may be provided to protect any other bone structure of the wearers face that the wearer may desire; The mask is secured to the wearers head by means of a strap which extends from the top of the mask and divides into two segments, both of which fasten to a second strap extending from one side of the mask to the other. Friction type buckles are located on the straps so that the mask may be adjusted to fit tightly over the wearers head.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention, there is shown in Figure 1 a perspective view of the mask I0 when viewed from the front. The mask I0 is made from a transparent material such a Plexiglas (methylmethacrylate) which can be shaped to conform to any particular face by heating the material in a'hot air oven to a high temperature and then placing the material over a form and forcing it into the shape desired while it is still in a pliable condition. When the mask is cooled it will retain its shape until it is reheated. The mask [0 is provided with an aperture II the position and shape of which will conform to the wearers mouth. This aperture will prevent any clouding from occurring on the mask from the moisture in the wearers breath. An aperture I2 is also provided so that the wearer may breathe through his nose without having the breath moisture settle on the mask and hinder the wearers view. As shown in Figure 3, the apertures I I and 12 are separated from each other by a projection l3 which extends outwardly from a point opposite the wearers teeth so as to protect the teeth in case an object should strike the mask at that point. A flapped portion l4 extends from the bottom side of the aperture l l to a point directly underneath the chin. This portion M has a protective pad 15 which may be made from a material such as foam rubber so that it is capable of absorbing shocks. The pad I5 may be glued to the inside of the mask with a transparent adhesive. These pads may be adjusted for any individual by building them up to any desired thickness through the addition of more shock-absorbing material. The extension l4 and shock absorbing material l5 serve to protect the chin.

The extension I 6 extends up from the aperture I2 to a point near the wearers forehead but is separated from the wearers nose, causing any object which strikes the mask at a point opposite the nose to be deflected without injury to the nose. At a point corresponding in position to the wearers' nose, the mask l0 becomes narrowed so as to form the bridge I]. This bridge has cutout sections l8 and I9 cut out of the mask so that the wearer will be able to look directly forward or to either side without having any part of the mask interrupt his line of vision. The mask flares out from the top part of the bridge H into a portion which will cover the forehead. This portion has a shock absorbing pad 2|, similar to the pad l5, to protect the forehead bone structure in case any object should strike the mask at that point. The mask also flares out from the bottom part of the bridge I! to' form the two por tions 22 and 23 which fit over the wearers cheek bones. These portions 22 and 23- extend upward and outward from the bottom of the bridge to conform to the shape of the cheek bones. Pads 24: and-25 similar to the pads |5 and 2| are at: taehed to the portions 2-2 and 23 respectively and protect the cheek bones from shocks resulting from objects which strike the portions 22 and 23 Figure 4 best shows the location of the pads 24 and A; slit 26 is provided at the top center of the portionfl'. and a s'trap'21 is inserted through the slitand'fas'tened to the portion 26. The strap 21 may be made from leather or cloth or any other material which is pliable and comfortable 0'1" it maybe made from rubber which will give the additional advantage of allowing the strap to bestretched to fit' on various sized heads. The strap 21, divides into two segments 28 and 29. The cheek bone portions 22 and 23 of the mask are slit-ted near their lateral extremitiesat the 156mm 3i and 32 so that 'a' second strap 33 may be inserted into the slits at the extremities and fastened to the portions 2-2 and 23. This strap 33:;- wl iich may be made from leather, clot-h, rub her or some other suitable material, extends from and cheek bone. in a horizontalfashion around the back" of the head to the other cheek bone when: the mask is placed upon the head.- The segments 28" and 29 are. separately fastened to the strap 33 in such manner that they extend vf ller-tire top of the head towards the back of the head when the mask is set in place on the head. The segments separate from each other as they ex-tendfrom the forehead over the top of the head, the segment 28 meeting the strap 33 at a point behind one ear and the segment 29 meeting the strap 33 at a point behind the other ear. Friction buckles 34 and 35 are attached to the segments 28 and. 29, respectively, and allow the segments to be lengthened or shortened. Friction buckles 36 are attached to the strap 33 for the purpose of allowing this strap to be lengthened or shortened.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

'1. A transparent shock absorbing mask to be secured on the wearer's head and over his face comprising a main portion formed of rigid nonshattering transparent material, said main portion adapted to cover the forehead, nose. cheekbones and chain and extending from the forehead over the nose andover the cheekbones to a position under the chin and a plurality of widely spaced apart shock absorbing cushions attached to saidtransparent main portion, said cushions adapted to rest against the forehead, cheekbones and chin of the face leaving the remaining por tion'of said main portion spaced away from the face to protect the flesh features of same.

2. A mask in accordance with claim 1 in which the main portion is provided at its lower half with outlet means for breathing purposes. 7

3. A mask in accordance with claim 1 wherein said main portion is recessed at positions corresponding to the wearers eyes to allow a direct view by the wearer. I V o v i. A mask in accordance with claim 1 wherein the main portion is provided at its lower half with outlet means for breathing purposes and the main portion is recessed- ;at' positions corresponding to the wearers' eyes to allow direct; view by the wearer.

JOHN. N-. W VER-z GEORGE W. DAVIS.

REFERENCES 'ciriiiir The following references; are. of record in the file of this patent: 

